Equipment selection for network fc cards

[kamil_drywa]

Hello, i'm the new one on this community and fiber connections, but i've little problem with equipment selection, namely - i've got a couple network cards for my HPE DL380p gen8 SFF - 530FLR 649869-001, HP NC523SFP and EMULEX OCE11102 49Y7942. Which transceivers, cables and switches i need to connect my server with Internet through thoese cards? Can i count on your help? 

[Ivan_B]

Hi @kamil_drywa !

All three NICs have SFP+ connectors, but we have MANY switches that have SFP+ ports, you really need to choose the exact model by yourself. My advice - stick to switches that have SFP+ ports. And for the Internet connection you may need a router as well or at least some device that will do NAT for you, as our switches do not have that capability - neither ArubaOS nor Comware nor even ArubaOS-CX.

[kamil_drywa]

I am thinking about future network expansion, so it would be nice if the switch had at least 24 sfp+ ports, but I wouldn't want to spend too much money on it. 

[kamil_drywa]

Let me add that I have a machine with the PfSense system installed that organizes NAT in my network. Maybe I could install one sfp+ card in the PCIe slot to connect it to the switch? I checked the version of PfSense that has drivers for the above-mentioned cards.

[Ivan_B]

Ok, so pFsense is a perfect router and firewall, so it will play the role of Internet gateway with no issues.

I would check following products:

Aruba 3810M 24SFP+ 250W Switch (JL430A)
Aruba CX 6300M 24-port SFP+ and 4-port SFP56 Switch (JL658A)

If you don't need all 24 ports to be SFP+, then it's much easier, just check for available options here - https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/switches/access/

[kamil_drywa]

Ok, thank you very much, i'll definitely check these solutions! But there is also the issue of transceivers and optical cables or DACs to connect devices

[Ivan_B]

I couldn't find anything about that Emulex card, maybe you need to ask about it in Server's forum, but for the rest two here are specifications with compatible transceivers:

https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/getdocument.aspx?docname=c04111574
https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/v2/getdocument.aspx?docname=c04111479

Hope this helps!